Hemerocallis Christmas Is - Daylily

The Daylily or Hemerocallis 'Christmas Is' is a lovely variety with bi-coloured and sparkling flowers, which shimmer under the warm sun of June. They are round, with a very bright cherry red colour and a wide lemon yellow throat, greener in the centre, in the shape of very flared trumpets with well-curled edges. Of modest size, they are produced abundantly on a medium-sized plant, in June-July, and again in September if they do not lack water or food. It is a problem-free perennial, whose success is guaranteed in ordinary soil, even heavy and clay soils.

The genus Hemerocallis belongs to the Liliaceae family. These are perennial and hardy plants whose foliage is deciduous, sometimes semi-evergreen. The variety 'Christmas Is' stands out for its bi-coloured and highly vivacious colours. It grows in a fairly dense clump reaching 60 cm (24in) in height, with a relative spread of 40 cm (16in), daylilies tend to spread a little when they like the soil. The flowers, of modest size, measure approximately 11 cm (4in) in diameter. The petals in this variety are very wide, quite smooth and gracefully curved. The bright red flowers adorned with a wide throat of bright yellow give an overall impression of vivacity and harmony. Each flower lasts little more than a day, but the flowering renews continuously over a beautiful period between June and July, then in September, albeit with less generosity. The stems are robust and filled with numerous buds. The foliage is linear and deciduous. Daylilies are plants with short rhizomes and fleshy roots that tolerate drought well but are more floriferous and more opulent in moist soil.

Very easy to cultivate, these plants thrive equally well in shade and in sun. Some of them can be a bit invasive, so do not hesitate to divide the clumps every four or five years, preferably in autumn, after flowering. The daylily is often called "the perfect perennial plant", due to its vibrant colours, its ability to tolerate any type of environment, but also because of its lack of modesty, it is of a beautiful exuberance that goes well with other perennials. Plant them in generous clumps in the back of your flower beds. All summer bulb flowers can be planted alongside daylilies. 'Christmas Is' will blend perfectly with the decor of a contemporary or wild garden, with grasses, dwarf bamboos, Nandina or perennial flax plants by its side. On a balcony or patio, large pots, at least 30 cm (12in) deep, should be provided  Choose from among the dwarf varieties. The flowers are edible: they brighten up salads and decorate desserts.